A record number of wildfires and the rapid deforestation of the Amazon are prompting Latin American bishops to plead for international action, writes America’s correspondent in Brazil, Eduardo Campos Lima.
Latin America
Posted inFaith, News
Vatican investigates sexual abuse allegation against Chilean president’s uncle
The investigation will determine the credibility of an accusation of abuse allegedly committed “more than 50 years ago” by Archbishop Pinera who, at 103, is the oldest living bishop in the world.
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
Brazil has one of the most violent prison systems in the world. Can the Catholic Church help?
Deadly riots regularly occur in the third-largest prison system in the world, reports Eduardo Campos Lima, and Brazilian authorities are restricting the practice of religion rather than address overcrowding, gang activity and other problems.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
With Venezuela in a free fall, its bishops call out the government
The country’s bishops, along with the rest of Catholic Church and the citizenry of Venezuela, have lived in the unfolding chaos that has driven at least 3 million out of the country.
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
The Mothers of La Candelaria continue their search for Colombia’s ‘disappeared’
Progress continues to be slow as local officials do not have the capacity to respond to the high number of investigations, and some families of disappeared persons remain wary of collaborating with authorities.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Senators oppose Trump refugee cuts on religious freedom grounds
“At a time when we are facing the ‘highest levels of displacement on record,’ according to the United Nations Refugee Agency, we urge you to increase the refugee resettlement cap and to admit as many refugees as possible within that cap,” the letter reads.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Trinidadians step up to aid Venezuelan migrants when government steps back
Venezuelan migrants, fleeing violence and political instability at home, had been trickling into the island nation for several years. That trickle became a wave in 2018 as inflation soared and food shortages became acute.
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
‘Safe third country’? Guatemalans are not convinced
“Our own people don’t have dignity. There’s no security. There are thousands of malnourished kids. How can we offer to be a safe country if it isn’t even safe for our own citizens?”
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
Is reform possible in Puerto Rico after street protests drive governor out of office?
“The emphasis of the activists on the ground,” Rolando López said, “is that the governor resigning is not the last step. This really is about a more general critique of the economy of Puerto Rico.”
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
Puerto Rico’s bishops call for Governor Ricardo Rosselló to step down
The bishops said in a statement on July 19: “You, Mr. Governor, bribed and attacked people and groups that participate in our democratic coexistence and therefore cannot continue to exercise your role.”